The role of attachment dimensions in adaptive and maladaptive strategies of emotion regulation with the mediation of cognitive capacity to suppress unwanted thoughts, social self-efficacy and self-disclosure

Doctoral dissertation in the field of educational psychology

Abstract

The role of attachment dimensions in adaptive and non-adaptive solutions

Emotion regulation through the mediation of cognitive capacity to suppress unwanted thoughts,

Social self-efficacy and self-disclosure

The aim of the research The purpose of this study was to examine the role of attachment dimensions (including anxiety and attachment avoidance) in different emotional regulation strategies (including adaptive strategies, non-adaptive strategies based on overactivation of the attachment system and non-adaptive strategies based on deactivation of the attachment system) with the mediation of variables related to "self" (including social self-efficacy and self-disclosure) and the cognitive capacity to suppress unwanted thoughts. The research participants included 384 female and male undergraduate students of Yazd University who were selected by multi-stage cluster method.

Questionnaires of attachment dimensions (Collins, 1996), emotion regulation strategies (Carver et al., 1989), social self-efficacy (Smith and Betz, 2000), self-disclosure (Kahn and Hessling, 2001) and cognitive suppression capacity. Unwanted thoughts (Washburn and Putney, 1998 computer software) were used and the results of factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha also confirmed their validity and reliability. The results of the present study based on a causal model with manifest and latent variables showed attachment anxiety, adaptive strategies to regulate emotions negatively (directly and mediated by social self-efficacy), strategies It predicts hyperactivation positively (directly and mediated by social self-efficacy) and deactivation strategies negatively (directly and mediated by lack of cognitive capacity). Also, attachment avoidance predicts adaptive strategies negatively (directly), hyperactivation strategies negatively (directly and mediated by self-disclosure), and deactivation strategies positively (directly and mediated by self-disclosure and lack of cognitive capacity). In addition, the proposed model of the research also had a favorable fit.

In general, it can be acknowledged that the dimensions of attachment in adulthood predict the strategies used by a person in the face of stressors. Both anxiety and avoidance lead to the non-use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies, and each of them in some way leads a person to their own maladaptive strategies. Variables related to "self" and the cognitive capacity of people also mediate this relationship.

Key words: attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, adaptive emotion regulation strategies, non-adaptive emotion regulation strategies, social self-efficacy, self-disclosure and cognitive capacity to suppress unwanted thoughts. 

Introduction

1-1- General

Excitement is a main phenomenon in human functions and plays a significant role in the survival and adaptation of the human species (Kettlar[1], 2004; Gross[2] and Thompson[3], 2007; Ness[4] and Ellsworth[5], 2009). At the interpersonal level, emotions help a person to be aware of the inner states and behavioral intentions of others (Freija[6], 1986); The exchange of such information between people is necessary for human relations and is an important determinant in psychological and social well-being. In addition, emotion has intrapersonal functions, such as finding insight into personal values, which is an important motivational factor in decision-making (Bechara [7], Damasio [8] and Damasio, 2000). Of course, in addition to adaptive functions, emotions also have harmful effects, which are mainly caused by their appearance at the wrong time or intensity. Inappropriate emotional responses in many forms of psychopathology (Campbell-Sales[9] and Barlow[10], 2007; Linehan[11], Bohas[12] and Lynch[13], 2007), social problems (Vranik[14], Barrett[15] and Salovey[16], 2007; Isenberg[17], Hofer[18] and Vaughan[19], 2007; Shaver[20] and Michalinser[21], 2007) and even play a role in physical diseases. Therefore, successful emotional regulation plays a fundamental role in human life (Gross, 2007). Many psychological, cognitive, physiological and behavioral functions are dependent on people's success in emotion regulation (Gross and Thompson, 2007) and effective emotional regulation functions moderate the impact of people's evaluations and mental reactions in dealing with stressful events and lead to appropriate and needed cognitive, motivational and behavioral reactions in such situations (Kramer [22], 1991; Lazarus [23], 1991; Gross and Thompson, 2007).In the meantime, some researchers have emphasized only one aspect of the regulation, adaptation, or adjustment processes of emotion regulation, and some have focused on several aspects of the emotion regulation process at the same time (Campos [24] and Sternberg [25], 1981, cited by Gross and Thompson, 2007; Gross, 1998). For example, Lazarus (1991) has focused more on the cognitive dimension and sees emotion and cognitive systems as integrated, he believes that emotion and its regulation are the result of cognitive evaluation. On the other hand, Gross (1998) and Power [26] and Daglish [27] (2008) believe that emotional regulation includes simultaneous changes related to each other in the physiological system, behavior and cognitive processes. In this regard, it seems that Thompson (1991) provided the most comprehensive definition of emotion regulation. He defines emotion regulation as follows: "All the internal and external processes that are responsible for monitoring, evaluating and modifying emotional reactions (especially their intensity and characteristics) so that in this way it can achieve its goals" (p. 27).

Emotion regulation is a group of innate characteristics that can be seen in infants, but it is significantly influenced by the environment and especially the parenting methods of parents. Emotion regulation develops in a nurturing environment, and otherwise, it functions maladaptively. The family, child-rearing methods and the areas that are influenced by them have been of interest to researchers in the family field to clarify its role in the development of emotion and emotional regulation. But the most comprehensive classification of emotion regulation strategies can be found in the model of Carver [28], Shir [29] and Weintraub [30] (1989), according to which fifteen types of emotion regulation are mentioned, including active adaptation [31], planning [32], suppression of other activities [33], inhibition [34], seeking instrumental social support [35], relying on emotional social support [36], reinterpretation It is positive [37], acceptance [38], denial [39], inclination to religion [40], lack of mental involvement [41], lack of behavioral involvement [42], focus on emotion [43], joking [44] and thirdly substance use [45].

Recent research on family factors (including parent-child attachment) is rooted in Balbi's attachment theory [46] (1969). Balbi (1969, 1973, 1980, 1982) believes that the infant is born with a repertoire of behaviors (attachment behaviors) aimed at seeking closeness[47] with supportive others (attachment images[48]). In this view, proximity seeking is an innate emotion regulation device [49] (primary attachment solution [50]) that protects a person from facing physical and psychological threats and reduces distress. Balby (1988) believes that emotion regulation occurs best when a person has attachment security, i.e. achieves a sense that the world is a safe place. It is in this state that a person can rely on supportive others, confidently explore the environment and communicate with others.

Among the popular models regarding emotional regulation is the Shaver and Mikalinser (2002) model, which emphasized the role of attachment in explaining the development of emotional regulation, the present research is also based on this model. Michalinser

Shaver and Michalinser (2002) model has integrated the findings of Balby (1973, 1982), Ainsworth[51] (1991), Cassidy[52] and Kubak[53] (1988) and Farley[54] and Shaver (2000). In this model, there are three main parts. The first part includes the awareness and evaluation of threatening events, which is responsible for activating the primary attachment strategy, i.e. proximity seeking. In other words, if danger signs are received, proximity search is activated. The second part includes awareness and assessment of the availability [55] of external or internalized attachment patterns. Based on this, people act differently based on their attachment type, in the sense that if attachment images were available, the person would be directed to use safety-based strategies [56]. But if attachment diagrams are not available, the third part of the model appears, which examines and evaluates the possibility of proximity[57]. This part leads people to secondary attachment strategies, i.e. hyperactivation [58] or deactivation [59].

Shiver and Michalinser (2002) in explaining these three parts, acknowledge that when a person faces a threat, his attachment system is activated.